Solutions for Internet Addictions
Reclaiming your Life © Martyn Carruthers

Internet websites entice many people into shameful behaviors.
We help people to end internet addictions and make healthy changes.
We help people overcome online obsessions and internet compulsions.

Do you use the internet recreationally for more than ten hours each week?

 

A study found that 50% of internet users said that they spend about half of their online time avoiding productive activities. The emotional, psychological and social implications of internet addiction indicate loneliness and suffering.

Procrastination, low productivity, social withdrawal and relationship difficulties are
common among those spending an unhealthy amount of time on the Web

Richard Davis, York University, Toronto, Canada.

Some people find the internet to be more addictive than drugs! We help people who spend so much time online, especially in sexual chat rooms, viewing pornography, gambling or playing games, that they have problems in their families and at work.

Recent email SPAM … Do you lack money? … Click xxx CASINO and
open the door to the world of happiness and prosperity!

 

People who use internet contacts as a substitute for meaningful relationships can damage their mental health. We find that your health, wealth and happiness generally reflect your relationships!

 

Symptoms of Internet Addiction

 

  1. Internet use relieves or avoids withdrawal symptoms
  2. Significant time spent in activities related to Internet use
  3. Time using the Internet interferes with daily responsibilities
  4. Internet is often accessed more often, or for longer periods of time
  5. Important social, occupational, or recreational activities are reduced
  6. Important relationship, job, education or career opportunities are at risk
  7. Withdrawal impairs functioning, e.g. anxiety, boredom, obsessions, fantasies

Addicted to Internet Pornography?

Internet pornography is a billion dollar industry. Online pornography is an equal opportunity destroyer. Perhaps you’ve read about the consequences – but reading rarely produces transformation. We can help you manage your emotions and solve relationship problems. We can help you restore your sanity and your life.

My boyfriend is addicted to internet porn. He said he would stop but he didn’t.
He says he has stopped but I don’t believe him. He wants to get married
but I don’t trust him enough. I feel unloved and hurt.
Bath, UK

Many internet addicts are victims of emotional incest and parental alienation. Perhaps we can be the catalyst you need to change unwanted habits.

We find that people involved with cybersex may not have sexual addictions,
but use pornography to explore and experiment with sexual fantasies.
But such experiments can damage partnerships and lead to obsessions.

Online Sex – Internet Porn Addiction

Internet pornography addiction progresses faster than other types of porn addiction, and can leave you feeling unclean, dirty and guilty. If you are addicted to internet porn, will you end your internet connection or block your browser?. We offer online coaching for all parts of life, including the expression of sexuality:

Internet Games

 

My teenage son is addicted to internet games. He plays evenings and nights and skips
school to play. I tried everything I can think of to make him stop …
Essex

Comment from her son: I like gaming because I feel accepted …
I can be good at something and feel like I’m an important part of a team
. Essex

 

We see compulsive gaming as a relationship issue rather than a psychological problem; and if gamers are over 18 – their parents have no legal right to intervene. We coach gamers to develop social activities and communications skills, and to avoid symptoms associated with video game addiction.

I don’t play games to be myself – I try on other personalities.
I can be a dark wizard, a spaceship captain or an army general!

Internet Chat Rooms

People who spend many hours online each week recreationally have told us that chat rooms are compulsive and that obsessive online chatting can damage their lives.

My husband of seven years is addicted to sexual chat rooms.
He’s been doing it for two years. I hate this! I’m crying all day and not eating.
All I can see in front of me is divorce!
Orlando

  • Do you secretly chat at work?
  • Does chatting interfere with your life?
  • Do you feel agitated if you cannot chat?
  • Do you spend longer chatting than you want?
  • Do you miss important activities because you are chatting?

Solutions for Internet Addiction

I have tried to get my wife offline for over a year. She gets up at 5:30am and is online until
7:30am then goes to work. She comes home at 5:30pm then stays on line till 10:00pm.
We hardly ever talk. When I threaten to leave, she laughs at me.

We help people set realistic goals for Internet use. We an help you set realistic goals for Internet usage (computer programs can provide accurate reports of surfing behavior).

We may ask for regular progress reports, or set up healthy rewards that you can earn by meeting your goals. We can help you identify triggers, set realistic goals and then stick to and monitor your progress to your goals.

Prevention & Solutions

  1. Be nice to yourself.
  2. Gradually decline online time.
  3. Know what you want tin (real) life.
  4. Reward yourself for good behavior.
  5. Do something different to meet people.
  6. Ask friends for ideas for alternative activities.
  7. Go offline – take whole days off from the internet.
  8. Identify underlying problems. From what do you to want to escape?

Do you neglect your health, relationships, work or responsibilities?

Internet Addiction – Possible Diagnostic Criteria
A pattern of Internet use, leading to impairment or distress as manifested by three (or more) of the following,
occurring at any time in the same 12-month period:

(I) tolerance, as defined by either: (A) A need for markedly increased amounts of time on Internet to achieve satisfaction, or (B) markedly diminished effect with continued use of the same amount of time on Internet (II) withdrawal, as manifested by either (A) the characteristic withdrawal syndrome
(1) Cessation of (or reduction) in Internet use that has been heavy and prolonged
(2) Two (or more) of the following, developing within several days to a month after Criterion 1: (a) psychomotor agitation (b) anxiety (c) obsessive thinking about what is happening on Internet (d) fantasies or dreams about Internet (e) voluntary or involuntary typing movements of the fingers
(3) The symptoms cause distress or impairment in social, occupational or other important area of functioning (B) Use of Internet or a similar on-line service is engaged in to relieve or avoid withdrawal symptoms (III) Internet is often accessed more often or for longer periods of time (IV) There is a persistent desire or unsuccessful efforts to control Internet use (V) Much time is spent in activities related to Internet use (e.g., buying Internet books, trying new browsers, researching Internet vendors, organizing files of downloaded materials (VI) Important social, occupational, or recreational activities are given up or reduced because of Internet use. (VII) Internet use is continued despite knowledge of having a persistent or recurrent physical, social, occupational, or psychological problem that is likely to been caused or exacerbated by Internet use (sleep deprivation, marital difficulties, lateness for early morning appointments, neglect of occupational duties, or feelings of abandonment in significant others)

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